Ombudsman

About This Trend

Ombudsman is an independent government official who investigates and addresses complaints from citizens against public officials or government agencies.

The term is trending due to recent developments, including the shutdown of the CIS Ombudsman's Office by the Trump administration and the appointment of a new ombudsman despite the office remaining nonfunctional. Additionally, the role of ombudsmen in various sectors, such as education and law enforcement, has drawn attention to their expanding responsibilities in protecting citizen rights and ensuring accountability.